Alfheim stadium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Alfheim Stadion | |
|---|---|
| Fort Alfheim | |
 |
|
| Location | Idrettsbygget, Stadionveien 3, 9007 Tromsø |
| Opened | 1987 |
| Closed | Open |
| Demolished | N/A |
| Owner | Tromsø I.L. |
| Operator | Tromsø I.L. |
| Surface | Artificial Grass (since 2006) |
| Former names | |
| none | |
| Tenants | |
| Tromsø I.L. (Tippeligaen) (1987-present) | |
| Capacity | |
| 8000 (Football) | |
Alfheim Stadium (Alfheim Stadion) is the home ground of the Norwegian Eliteserie football club Tromsø I.L..
Contents |
[edit] The pitch
The artificial grass pitch at Alfheim Stadium is the biggest in Norway, being 110 metres long and 70 meters wide. It is also the northernmost Premier Division stadium in Norway, making its under-soil heating a must-have.
Alfheim had natural grass until 2006. However, the condition of the pitch, especially during the winter months, received considerable criticism from sports pundits and visiting managers. Usually around October, when the Eliteserie is in its last rounds, winter sets in in Tromsø. This, along with the wear and tear from football matches and practicing sessions, caused the grass to disappear and reduced the pitch to a muddy field. To make up for this, Tromsø I.L. decided to install artificial turf at the stadium, and did so during the Elitserie-break during the World Cup in Germany. To fund the new turf, Tromsø I.L. received contributions from several businesses in Tromsø, including 7.5 million NOK from an anonymous giver.
[edit] The stands
Some controversy surrounded one of the stands during the 2004-season. Ringnes, a Norwegian brewery, complained about the clubs S.K. Brann and Tromsø I.L. being sponsored by the breweries Hansa Borg and Mack Brewery respectively. Advertising for alcohol is illegal in Norway. The result of this complaint for Tromsø I.L. was that the club had to remove all advertisements for Mack, including the seating arrangement on one of the stands that spelled out Mack. The seats were changed, making the stands spell out Tack in stead. Tack is a play on words, since it resembles the word Takk, Norwegian for "thank you", a gesture from Tromsø I.L. thanking Mack for the co-operation through a great deal of years. Ahead of the 2005-season, the former Mack-stands had been renamed to the Coop-stands, being sponsored by the Norwegian convenience store chain Coop. The stands on the opposite side of the pitch were rebuilt ahead of the 2005-season, meaning both stands now have roofs. While these stands are seated, the stands behind each goal are for standing supporters, something which is legal in Norwegian football, but illegal for continental competitions. The standing-only stands behind each goal are without a roof. Isberget, Tromsø I.L.'s supporter club stand behind the north-end goal, while the area designated for visiting supporters is behind the south-end goal.
[edit] Fort Alfheim
Because of Tromsø I.L.'s good home record in many seasons in the Eliteserie (e.g. 10 wins in 13 matches in the 2004-season), Alfheim Stadium has been given the nickname Fort Alfheim, building on the image of Alfheim Stadium as being impregnable. Chelsea F.C., Galatasaray, and Red Star Belgrade have all experienced losing to Tromsø I.L. at Alfheim.
[edit] External link
